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Store Owners Hold Their Breath, Eye December Sales

Monday, December 07, 2009

Many boutiques are closely tracking their sales numbers as December is often a make or break month for those stores that rely on big holiday sales. WNYC's Lisa Chow reports.

REPORTER: Charles Branstool didn't feel particularly optimistic coming into this holiday season. He owns Exit 9, a gift store with locations in the East Village and Smith Street in Brooklyn.

BRANSTOOL: We're not quite on target with our numbers the way we thought we would be. October and November were not as big as a turnout for us.

REPORTER: He says his store in the East Village hasn't turned a profit at all this year, but as he walks around his well stocked Brooklyn store, selling everything from screen printed pillow cases to a magnetic toy called buckyballs, he tries to keep an open mind.

BRANSTOOL: The month of December can do wonders, so who knows?

REPORTER: If it doesn't, he says he'll either close one store, or continue to dip into his savings, and hope sales recover, a choice many retailers will face after Christmas. For WNYC, I'm Lisa Chow.

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